EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team avenged a loss to UW-La Crosse earlier in the season, as the Blugolds topped the Eagles 72-64 here today at W. L. Zorn Arena.

Eau Claire improves to 13-7 on the season and 6-5 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play while La Crosse falls to 10-9 on the year and 3-7 in the WIAC. The Blugold win avenges a December 11 loss to La Crosse, when the Eagles edged out a 48-47 victory at home.

The game was played close the entire game as no team lead by more than five points until late in the game. The lead changed four times throughout the game and the score was tied on 12 different occasions.

The Blugolds finally took a lead bigger than five points with just 3:21 remaining in the contest, when Rachel Becker (Jr.-Gilmanton) connected on a three-point shot to put Eau Claire up 66-60. The Eagles would not come closer than five points after the long-distance shot from Becker. The free-throw game came into play in the final three minutes, as the Blugolds connected on 8-of-12 attempts from the charity stripe in the final 3:06 while the Eagles were just 5-of-9 from the line in the final 5:18.

Becker finished with a career-day, posting 13 points and setting a personal record with 12 assists. The mark is just two shy of Eau Claire's school record. Michelle Burns (Fr.-Eau Claire/North) led the team with 18 points in the win while Joanna Leafblad (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) scored 17 on the day. Becca Carstensen (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) led the Blugolds with seven rebounds.

Shawna Koss led the Eagles in a losing effort, posting 14 points in the loss. Katy Searing added 13 points while Jana Merchlewitz scored 12.

The Blugolds will be back in action this Tuesday when they host UW-Whitewater at 7:00 p.m. at Zorn Arena.

Eau Claire-La Crosse Box Score

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